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BMW ActiveHybrid 7

At the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2009, BMW introduced the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 and the BMW ActiveHybrid X6. These are the first vehicles that BMW produced and marketed with a hybrid engine. While the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 could be purchased as of December 2009, the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 did not go on sale in the U.S. until the spring of 2011, for the 2011 model year. The BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is categorized as a full-size, luxury performance hybrid sedan.

The BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is a new model in the BMW 7 Series lineup. It is not uncommon for BMW to launch new features within the 7 Series, since the 7 represents the flagship sedan for the company. Almost all new features and technologies are initially unveiled on a new 7 model. To create a hybrid 7 Series sedan, BMW used the same engine found in the BMW 750i and then added an electric motor. The electric motor has a power rating of 20 horsepower. This type of hybrid engine system is based on the two-mode hybrid system created by Daimler AG.

About the BMW ActiveHybrid 7

The BMW ActiveHybrid 7 comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission coupled with the V-8 twin-turbo engine and electric motor. The combination of the engine and electric motor provides 455 horsepower for the sedan. According to BMW, the ActiveHybrid 7 is one of the most powerful hybrids available. Although the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 weighs more than its non-hybrid counterpart, BMW claims that fuel economy and mileage increase on this model and emissions decrease by up to 15 percent. It is very fast, and the addition of the electric motor makes it more powerful and quicker than its non-hybrid V-8 counterpart.

BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Features

The 2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 costs significantly more than the non-hybrid V-8 BMW 750i. Consumers can expect an increase in the sticker price of about $20,000 for the standard model and a few thousand more for the longer wheelbase version.

The instrument panel within the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 contains additional displays, which are also added to the central panel so passengers can stay informed about how the vehicle is running. The display information includes the current efficiency of the car, its gas mileage, and also the status of the hybrid components. In addition to the modifications to the interior of the BMW ActiveHybrid 7, the exterior shows slight restyling compared to the non-hybrid version of the BMW 750i. The ActiveHybrid 7 comes with 19-inch light alloy wheels that have been aerodynamically tuned. The model designations have been changed on the lid of the trunk, with badges on both the trunk and the C pillars of the car. Finally, an additional blue paint color, called Bluewater Metallic, offers another exterior color option for the car.

The BMW ActiveHybrid 7 comes in a base model and also a long wheelbase model. In addition to the extra length, the long wheelbase version of the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 comes with a standard self-leveling rear suspension. Both models have Servotronic power steering created by BMW, which allows variation based on speed. BMW Driving Dynamics Control is also included with both versions of the ActiveHybrid 7. These controls allow the driver to choose the setting for the shock absorbers, how the stability control operates, how the automatic transmission shifts through gears, and the response of the car to throttle and steering changes.

When BMW produces a vehicle, it aims for a 50/50 weight distribution. Due to the addition of the electric motor to the ActiveHybrid 7, a lithium-ion battery is necessary. To maintain the weight ratio within the sedan, BMW placed the battery in the rear of the car, sitting between the rear wheel arches in the trunk. Although this results in some loss of space, the car still offers 13 cubic feet of storage in the trunk.

With the predicted improvement in gas mileage of 15 percent over the non-hybrid version, the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 should attain about 16/24 mpg city/highway. One significant difference between the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 and other hybrid vehicles containing a gas/electric engine combination that are produced by other car manufacturers is the fact that during acceleration of the ActiveHybrid 7, the electric motor cannot be used on its own.